Wednesday, 30 May 2012

I was just surfing the nett when I came across Snickerdoodles! With a name like that I had to find out more. Snickerdoodles are also known as Cinnamon Sugar Cookies and have been around since the late 1800s.

Their origin is un-known but they probably originated in New England and have either German or Dutch descent. Where the name comes from is anyone's guess.

There is no milk in these just lots of sugar and margarine. They are really light and easy on the stomach.

Monday, 14 May 2012

This focaccia bread recipe is my favourite as most make a thick dough which gives me a stomach ache but this focaccia bread recipe produces a thin pizza like crust that is juicy and delicious.

The reason it gives a pizza like dough is because it is a recipe for pizza dough which I got from one of my favourite cook books A little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That from the winner of Junior Masterchef Isabella Bliss and her family.

The recipe has been passed down through generations is easy to make and tastes great too.

Method
Place the water and yeast into a large bowl and stir with your fingers until the yeast dissolves and the water looks milky.

Add the sugar, salt and flour to yeast mixture and mix until a soft dough forms. Use extra flour if required.

Place dough onto a flat surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until it is soft and smooth.

Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover with cling wrap and a clean towel. To get dough to rise faster heat oven and place bowl on stove top.

Leave to rise for about 1 hr. If placing on warm stove dough will rise in approximately 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 200C.

Sprinkle flour on your bench and along the rolling pin. Then take the dough and roll out to the desired thickness and size.

Lightly grease a round or square tray (I used a pizza tray which has holes in it to make a crispy base). Lightly grease the top of the rolled out dough and place on tray.

Then sprinkle with rosemary and herb salt. If you don't have this salt which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you buy because it is incredibly delicious you can finely chop 1 clove of garlic and sprinkle 1 tablespoon dry parsley and thyme.

With a fork place holes in a few places on top of the dough so you don't get air bubbles when it rises.

Place focaccia bread in oven and bake for 20 - 30 minutes until golden brown on top.

Best eaten fresh out of the oven when the focaccia bread smells absolutely divine.

Monday, 7 May 2012

This is one of the best blueberry muffins recipe I have found in a while. It is from Marian Keyes Saved by Cake Cookbook. In her book the recipe is called Sweet and Simple Strawberry Cupcakes but strawberries are not in season so I used frozen blueberries.

This is a wonderful light and fluffy blueberry muffins recipe that is milk free.

I only made 6 as I wanted them for a snack. They are quick and easy to make and not much washing up afterwards. It really is the perfect recipe.

Friday, 4 May 2012

I found this Drunk Chicken recipe in the paper and comes from some book or other but I didn't cut that bit out so I don't remember. It is suppose to be a Mexican dish called Chicken in Wine but I prefer to call it Drunk Chicken.

Healthy Banana Bread Recipe

Method
Preheat the oven to 160°C and grease and line a loaf pan with baking paper.

Sift flour into a bowl and then scoup in the whoelemal flakes. Stir in sugar and cinnamon. Add the eggs, vanilla and banana and stir until everything is well combined. Spread mixture into prepared pan.

Bake the homemade banan bread for 45-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool in the pan then turn the banana bread out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Slice the homemade banana bread and serve with milk free margarine and honey drizzled on top.